Sir Galahad
By Josh Ritter
This is based on a 10/6/10 show at McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. The lyrics (from
same show) were found on the Chimney Smoke blog and were transcribed by the author. The
are taken from the video and are most likely correct.
http://chimneysmoke.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/galahad-lyrics-new-song-by-josh-ritter/
The song is picked with a quick pattern (hear and watch him perform the song on Chimney Smoke)
Capo 2nd fret (he has played it open in concert as well)
All chords are relative to the capo
There are two progressions
C F, CGCAmGC F, CGCC
The angel of the Holy Grail
F
saw Galahad come riding
CGC
So he took the Holy Grail off the shelf.
C
And inside the holy chapel made for
F
Holy Grail hiding the angel
CGC
Could be seen to smile to himself.
AmG
"If you're the great Sir Galahad
CF
From now on," said the angel
CGC
"May all angels call me blessed of my race."
AmG
"If you're not the great Sir Galahad
CFC
I'll warn you, keep on riding and if you are
GC
I pray you'll let me see your face."
C
Galahad took off his helmet, said
F
"Good angel look upon me.
CGC
Fear not, for I bring tidings of great joy.
C
For long years the grail you've guarded, now
F
You get to let me drink it, how
CGC
Happy must be angels thus employed."
CFCGC
C
"All the favors you shower upon
F
Me, a simple angel," said the
CGC
Angel, "your magnificence abounds.
C
Take your boots off great Sir Galahad,
F
For by your astounding beauty whatever
CGC
Ground you stand on turns to holy ground."
C
Galahad took off his boots, and he
F
Watched the ground quite closely
CGC
And the angel smiled to himself again.
C
He said, "I can't believe I'm asking, but
F
Sir Galahad please tell me, what is
CGC
It that makes you want to go to heaven?
AmG
In heaven there's no lamb chops,
CF
Queen Guinevere's for hand jobs,
CGC
Marijuana, Kenny Rogers, or Ecstasy.
AmG
No pillaging, no rape, perhaps
CF
you've come by some mistake to me
CGC
this seems more error than knight errantry.
CFCGC x2
C
Yes, and what about the stable boys,
F
I know you think they're handsome
CGC
and some of them, they think you're awful handsome too.
C
And, sitting up in heaven, you'll still
F
think about them often, when you're an
CGC
angel thinking's all that you can do."
AmG
At this, Sir Galahad got angry,
CF
"Angel," he said, "don't you tempt me.
CGC
I wish to go to heaven and not to hell.
AmG
So when stable boys look lonesome,
CF
When the women call me handsome,
CGC
I'll hold me virtue very firmly by myself."
C
"I guarantee you'll hold it often,"
F
said the angel. "Oh one more thing, before you
CGC
drink the wine, please take your armor off.
C
I gotta carry you to heaven,
F
And despite what you'd imagine,
CGC
I have trouble bearing heavy things aloft."
CFCGC x2
C
Sir Galahad stood naked
F
In a pile of his armor,
CGC
His boots and helmet scattered all around.
C
His perfect lips, they sipped the grail,
F
His perfect heart commenced to fail,
CGC
His perfect body fell upon the ground.
AmG
The angel lit a cigarette.
CF
When he was sure Galahad was dead,
CGC
He picked all of his clothes up off the floor.
AmG
Then I put on his boots and armor
CF
I laid his body on the altar
CGC
Put his helmet on and I headed for the door.

So I haven't seen the video, but from the studio version I have there are a few differences as I hear them. No capo for one. Second would be that the "If you're the great Sir Galahad" part the chord progression would be Am - C/B - C and then the rest is correct.